Photo: Nissan / edited
Slotted above the subcompact Versa, the Sentra is under recall stateside over an extremely unsettling issue. As it happens, a simple pothole impact may deform the tie rods.
Nissan became aware of this problem in January 2023, following a warranty claim alleging an off-center steering wheel. The dealer technician identified a broken tie rod, prompting a full-on investigation. Nissan originally shrugged it off as nothing more than a fatigue fracture, but upon further investigation, the automaker's engineering department observed abnormal deformation.
Material testing results were inconclusive, and bench testing also failed to duplicate said condition. During this period, Nissan received four additional warranty claims in the US market, alleging either bent or broken tie rods. Come June 2023, someone at Nissan came up with the brilliant idea of duplicating the issue by driving a Sentra. Lo and behold, that's when the automaker's engineers determined that a sufficiently high-input force (think pothole or curb impact) may bend or break the tie rods.
Given these circumstances, Nissan preferred to recall Sentra vehicles produced for the 2020 through 2022 model years rather than face a class-action lawsuit for trying to sweep this problem under the rug. A grand total of 236,238 sedans are called back, with assembly dates ranging from November 25 to March 2022.
Dealers have already been instructed to replace any bent or broken tie rod with newly designed parts. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, remedy parts will become available in late 2023. The repair may take up to 2.5 hours to complete. Owners will be notified beginning on October 5 by first-class mail of recall number 23V-581.
Originally a subcompact, the Sentra became a compact in 1999, the year Nissan and Renault officialized their alliance. Although Carlos Ghosn saved Nissan from bankruptcy, it should be noted that Ghosn also damaged the Yokohama-based automaker with aggressive cost-cutting measures. There is a reason Nissans have a bad reputation for quality and reliability, and that reason can be traced back to Renault getting involved with Nissan. Also worthy of note, there is a reason why Ghosn earned the nickname Le Cost Killer.
This isn’t the first time Nissan recalled this generation of the Sentra over bent or broken tie rods. Back in June 2021, the company recalled 138,736 examples of the 2020 to 2021 model year Sentra, blaming "potential material handling and assembly process issues." Given that Nissan redesigned the tie rods for MY23, it's pretty obvious the original tie rods were not properly designed.
Now available to configure from $20,200 (sans destination charge), the Sentra totaled 57,455 deliveries in the first half of 2023 in the United States market. Assembled in Mexico, hence the VIN beginning with 3, the Sentra competes with the likes of the Toyota Corolla (starting at $21,700) and Honda Civic ($23,950).
Material testing results were inconclusive, and bench testing also failed to duplicate said condition. During this period, Nissan received four additional warranty claims in the US market, alleging either bent or broken tie rods. Come June 2023, someone at Nissan came up with the brilliant idea of duplicating the issue by driving a Sentra. Lo and behold, that's when the automaker's engineers determined that a sufficiently high-input force (think pothole or curb impact) may bend or break the tie rods.
Given these circumstances, Nissan preferred to recall Sentra vehicles produced for the 2020 through 2022 model years rather than face a class-action lawsuit for trying to sweep this problem under the rug. A grand total of 236,238 sedans are called back, with assembly dates ranging from November 25 to March 2022.
Dealers have already been instructed to replace any bent or broken tie rod with newly designed parts. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, remedy parts will become available in late 2023. The repair may take up to 2.5 hours to complete. Owners will be notified beginning on October 5 by first-class mail of recall number 23V-581.
Originally a subcompact, the Sentra became a compact in 1999, the year Nissan and Renault officialized their alliance. Although Carlos Ghosn saved Nissan from bankruptcy, it should be noted that Ghosn also damaged the Yokohama-based automaker with aggressive cost-cutting measures. There is a reason Nissans have a bad reputation for quality and reliability, and that reason can be traced back to Renault getting involved with Nissan. Also worthy of note, there is a reason why Ghosn earned the nickname Le Cost Killer.
This isn’t the first time Nissan recalled this generation of the Sentra over bent or broken tie rods. Back in June 2021, the company recalled 138,736 examples of the 2020 to 2021 model year Sentra, blaming "potential material handling and assembly process issues." Given that Nissan redesigned the tie rods for MY23, it's pretty obvious the original tie rods were not properly designed.
Now available to configure from $20,200 (sans destination charge), the Sentra totaled 57,455 deliveries in the first half of 2023 in the United States market. Assembled in Mexico, hence the VIN beginning with 3, the Sentra competes with the likes of the Toyota Corolla (starting at $21,700) and Honda Civic ($23,950).
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